One of Asia’s cheapest holiday destinations to get new £168million airport
UZBEKISTAN is where you can get bargain beers and stay in 5-star hotels for as little as £63 per night.
And it could get much easier for Brits to visit as it’s set to fully opening a new airport next year.
A new international airport is set to open in Uzbekistan in early 2027 at an estimated cost of $226 million (£168million).
The new airport which is already being constructed is in the Bukhara region in the southwest of the country.
On completion it will be able to handle over three million passengers each year and could grow to as many as eight million within the next three years.
The airport will have a 3.3km runway capable of accommodating all aircraft types and the terminal will have a capacity of up to 1,200 passengers per hour.
Construction started in 2024 and the full opening is set for next year.
New flight routes are yet to be confirmed, but there’s a possibility there could be some from the UK.
There has been a surge in interest to visit the country as Uzbekistan has seen tourist numbers increase from just over two million in 2017 to more than 10 million in 2025.
There are few direct routes from the UK to Uzbekistan – but one was added just last month.
In December 2025, Qanot Sharq announced it would launch two direct flights per week between London Gatwick and Tashkent.
Flights between London and Uzbekistan’s capital take seven hours.
Uzbekistan is one of Asia’s cheapest holiday destinations. According to
Numbeo, the price of a local beer is 17,500 UZS (£1.08)
The average price of a cappuccino is 23,030 UZS (£1.42).
When it comes to hotels, you can get a budget stay for as little as £9 per night.
If you’re looking for luxury, 5-star hotels don’t break the bank either, the Hilton Samarkand Regency can cost as little as £63 per night.
Travellers who have been to Uzbekistan have recognised it as being affordable.
Race Across the World winner Alfie Watts told Sun Travel: “Uzbekistan has great value for money.
“When I went, we were on the tourist trail which made things a bit more expensive. But we got a half an hour taxi which cost 20,000 UZS which is is £1.24.”
As for what to do in Uzbekistan, the country has lots of Silk Road cities – which are stops on historical trade routes.
Some of the most-visited of these are Samarkand, Bukhara, and Khiva.
There’s plenty of beautiful architecture like Registan Square and Bibi-Khanym Mosque in Samarkand.
The country has incredible mountain scenery with ranges like Uzbekistan the Western Tian Shan in the northeast and the Gissar-Alay in the south.
When it comes to food, you can pick up speciality dishes like Plov (Pilaf) which is a one-pot rice dish which generally contains rice, meat, and carrots.
You can also try steamed dumplings called Manti, savory pastries Samsa, and spicy noodle stew called Lagman.
The best times to visit Uzbekistan are spring and autumn when the temperatures are mild.
For more on travelling to lesser-visited countries, hear from one man who left the UK to travel on £35 a day.
Another man who has visited every country on Earth named Uzbekistan as one of the most underrated destinations.